Kiln!

Yesterday I drove a couple of hours to pick up a new kiln.  Well, new to me.  She said she had used it a few times, but it looks pristine.  I have another one exactly like this one.  It is over 12 years old and still works like a charm, but I worry about what to do when it stops.  They are no longer being made, and it is the best bead kiln I have ever used.  Now I have a plan!  Today I tested it- my excuse for making beads!

Baby quilt

I have 3 sisters, and we all like to sew and quilt (when we have the time!)  Years ago, when the first niece became pregnant, all of us worked together on a baby quilt as a gift, and we have continued that tradition for each new baby.  We decide on a pattern, one of us buys all the fabric and distributes it to the others.  Each of us makes blocks that are then mailed to one sister to join and finish. 

The technique for this quilt was a new one for me- pierced paper.  According to the directions, I cut out the paper pattern pieces and sewed them to the fabric.  All those pieces were joined, and after each block was finished, the paper was torn out.  It was not an easy process, and thank goodness one of my sisters came for the weekend to help me.  I can't say I liked it much.  A lot of fabric was wasted, which to me runs counter to quilting!  But the resulting quilt is beautiful!

Most craftsmen and artists have skills in so many different fields!

Jenna's beads

Jenna demonstrated for 4 days at the Kutztown Folk Festival.  She has done this for me for around 6 years, and it is the only time she gets to work on a torch.  These are the beads she made on the last day.  They were still in the kiln at the end of the day when she left.  By the time I was packed, the kiln was cool enough to put in my car, and then this week I took them off the mandrels and mailed them to her.  Jenna has done some sculptural beads before, so this year I loaned her my book about Sharon Peters.  As you can see, she got lots of ideas!  The lizard is on a big hole bead, ring sized.  The lion and pig are amazing, and the ladybugs are probably destined to be earrings.  She certainly has the knack of working with hot glass!  I tell her I want credit when she is famous!

Kutztown 2011

The Kutztown Folk Festival is over and I survived!  The show was great, and the weather cooperated for the most part.  I kept forgetting to take my camera to the show, but I finally remembered the last day.  This is Jenna, who has demonstrated for me many years.  (I didn't get a photo of my other demonstrator Carrie.)  As soon as she lights the torch, a crowd forms to watch.  The "steam engine" comes by once a day or so, and is fun to watch.  I didn't get a photo of the calliope.

The food is legendary!    Lunch on Sunday was a corn pie, one of my favorites!

There is Michael Mootz fudge, which I had to finish because I didn't want to bring it home.  At least that is what I told myself.  I also had an ice ream sandwich, which was made with fresh waffles.  There were also funnel cakes, bratwurst, pork bbq.... I ate good!  The PA Dutch are not known for being slim!

Wind is always a problem for me, so everything is clamped or tied down.  I am careful what I store under the tables- any paper has to be placed where it won't get wet.  I have been in the same spot for years, so I know what direction the wind and rain blows.




Many people bring their dogs to the show, but this is the first time I have seen a horse!

All in all, it was a very successful show!  My dutchy clothes will be packed away for another year.

Spacer beads

It is June, and I am working overtime getting ready for the Kutztown Folk Festival.  This year it starts on July 2 and runs until the following Sunday, July 10.  Every day I make beads, and every evening I put those beads into jewelry.  My supply of simple spacer beads has been depleted so I decided I needed to make more, in many colors.  They are not very exciting to make, but it can be very meditative.  I worked my way through 8 colors, and after an hour or so I veered off and made some other beads.  But it occurred to me that I would rather make spacer beads all day than work at a "real" job!

Bench chair

Here is my workbench chair, where I should be spending a lot of time this month.  I need to make tons of beads so I can put jewelry together for the Kutztown Folk Festival, which runs July 2-11 this year.  Getting ready for a major show like this is a huge commitment, and is very stressful.  I call it my Kutztown panic mode.

Notice the mat under the chair.  The floors slants away from my bench and the chair tends to roll backwards- a real problem when making beads.  I solved that by putting a heavy mat under the chair.  Oh, the problems beadmakers must deal with (with which beadmakers must deal?)

Bead show treasures

It seems like every bead show where I exhibit, I find some stones, pearls or other treasure that I "need".  Every year I participate in a few craft shows where I sell jewelry, so I do need to put jewelry together.  At least, that is my excuse for buying more treasures!  I try to buy stones that will coordinate with my glass beads, but once in a while I buy something just because!  These slabs of agate  have been on my mind since I bought them in February.  I finally took some time to see if I could use them with my beads.  The smooth texture of the slabs is a nice contract to the rough texture of my frit beads, and I was happy with the resulting necklace.

One of the fun things about bead shows for me is finding stones or pearls that will combine well with my beads.  Sometimes I know exactly what will work, and sometimes the ideas need to percolate.